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Cardiovascular Imaging

Molecular imaging lab

Dr. Lindner leads a laboratory group that studies molecular imaging of inflammation, ischemia, and angiogenesis with site targeted ultrasound contrast agents; drug and gene delivery with ultrasound; and microvascular physiology at the capillary level.

Myocardial short axis images obtained in vivo demonstrating signal enhancement from the inflammatory response following ischemia-reperfusion injury of the left circumflex artery.

Upper row of images shows a large anterior perfusion defect during acute myocardial infarction. Only a small subendocardial defect persists after successful PTCA as depicted in the lower row of images.

Myocardial contrast echocardiography

MCE uses microbubbles as contrast agents that scatter ultrasound waves during their transit through the coronary microcirculation. The microbubbles, which are made of insoluble, high-molecular weight gases and are about the size of a red blood cell, are injected into a vein and flow with the blood into the heart through the coronary arteries. The signal or, backscatter, produced by the bubbles can be detected and measured, telling doctors the velocity of blood flowing through the heart.